Susan Parker: Can an entire island-nation live completely cat-free?

Amid all the political turmoil, this headline on Slate.com caught my eye: Cats Are Evil

As an affirmed cat lover, I couldn't pass that one over. The subtitle clarified the topic: Why New Zealand is right to consider banning them in order to save its wildlife.

So of course I had to stop and read the short article. After a brief history of the relationship between felines and humans, it becomes clear that the author supports the establishment of a cat-free New Zealand, in order to save the island's wildlife, which pet cats are systematically destroying.

The method advocated is to spay or neuter all cats currently living on the island, allowing them to live out their lives but prohibiting anyone from allowing any more feline births or imports.

The story describes cats as a globally invasive species. It also said that because we live in mostly mouse-proof houses, cats are reduced to mere parasites.

My cats still keep my house mouse-free, and I know this because I've caught them red-handed, uh, actually with mouse-in-mouth.

While I understand the reasoning, after trying and failing to live a cat-free life myself, I have to wonder how anyone could live in a nation that is barren of cats.

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Susan Parker: Can an entire island-nation live completely cat-free?

Amid all the political turmoil, this headline on Slate.com caught my eye: Cats Are Evil